Page 107 of Stone
Yeah, Dani Vale, the most courageous woman in the world, was rubbing off on me.
CHAPTER 29
Daniella
Endings had never been a favorite pastime.
Whether reaching the end of my favorite book or a television series I’d binge-watched to get my mind off real life, hitting ‘The End’ always left me feeling empty inside.
When dealing with the end of a relationship, quietly or loudly leaving the situation was never easy.
But as I sat out on the deck peering at the gently rolling ocean waves, this particular end, while cold, filled me with a sense of satisfaction. Would I miss my mother over the years? Absolutely. Perhaps at some point she’d disengage herself from my father’s hold and we could spend some time together.
But I wasn’t holding my breath.
Not only was she a creature of habit, but she also hated ruffling feathers. Especially since my father never made their disagreements easy.
Stone had left me alone at my request, although I felt him hovering over me only feet away in case I had an emotional breakdown.
I loved him for his concern and his care, but I was much stronger than even two weeks before. I took a deep breath as I lifted my phone from the table. I’d experienced so many thoughts, so much emotion that I should be drained. Instead, I was alive with energy, eager to begin the next phase of my life. Was I certain what that entailed? Not yet, but I was coming close to making perhaps the most important decision of my life.
Whether to stay or go.
After dialing the number, I grabbed the wineglass and sat back. Surprisingly, I was completely relaxed.
“Daniella.”
My father’s voice was powerful as usual, but I detected a hint of uncertainty. It was good to hear since he’d tried in several ways to ruin my life.
“My son is an amazing young man, Dad. He’s kind and generous, intelligent and creative. He’s the best of both Stone and me. But you wouldn’t know that. Would you? You have no idea how amazing Tyler Warren is. Of course, that is unless you continued your long-standing friendship with his mother, Senator Trish Warren. Just in case you don’t know who she is, which is laughable at best, she’s on your oversight committee. From what I can tell, the two of you have been friends since law school. Naturally, you selected someone you knew and trusted to steal my child and keep your secrets. Correction, the child I had with the love of my life. Now, I’m curious how you feel about what you did. Do you feel guilty or did you simply shove the decisionyou made into a tidy little box like you do everything else in your unscrupulous, corrupt life?”
I took a deep breath, feeling more uplifted than I thought I would. It was as if a weight had been yanked from my shoulders, allowing me to breathe once again.
“You don’t understand,” he said much more quietly than I’d heard in my entire life.
“Okay. What don’t I understand, Dad? That you’ve tried to rule my life since I was born? That you manipulated everyone around me, doing your best to ruin relationships? That you did your best to drive away the only boy I’ve ever loved, who is now a fully grown and distinguished man? Or perhaps you’re talking about your utter hatred of Carter Bellows? Is that it?”
His heavy breathing was the only indication he was even listening or was still on the line.
“Let me think,” I continued, purposely pausing for a dramatic effect, “you were trying to cover up something terrible that happened between you and Stone’s father, who you admitted had once been your friend. Since Stone has the same incredible sense of self that his father did and a completely moral character, you weren’t able to destroy either man. So, you took it upon yourself to perform an ultimate act of betrayal. You lied about my son’s life. You dared tell me he’d died, paying another family off to take the grandson you refused to learn anything about so you could keep me on a short leash while bribing Stone to stay away from me.”
“Dani, you have no idea how terribly sorry I am for the decisions I’ve made.”
“Save it, Daddy. I’ve learned through the years you simply have no capacity for guilt or apologies. There isn’t a thing you can say to me to right the terrible wrongs or to bring twenty years of my life, Stone’s life, or my son’s life back. Not one damn thing.”
Yes, I’d raised my voice slightly, but was proud of myself so far, I’d kept my cool. I felt Stone’s presence right behind me, standing guard like the protector and hero he’d been his entire life. Instead of feeling violated by his attention, I was exhilarated, comforted by his closeness.
And his love.
“Please. Just allow me a few minutes to explain.” Now my father was begging?
I laughed and took a sip of my wine. Merlot had never tasted so delicious. It was fascinating how more alive my senses were since being relieved of such a tremendous burden.
“Unless you’re willing to confess all your sins, which somehow include Matis Garnier, then I don’t think we have anything left to talk about.” He seemed genuinely surprised I’d put some pieces together. “What, Daddy? You didn’t think I realized the reason I was kidnapped was entirely personal?”
“Shit, Dani. If you’ll just allow me to explain.”
“No, Father. I will not. The truth is that you had your chance to come clean years before. Two decades before, but you chose to enshroud all your dirty little secrets with blackmail and extortion. No longer. As of today, you are permanently and forever out of my life. Do not attempt to contact me again.”
